Hair holding device adapted for a removeably mounted chemical light stick

ABSTRACT

A hair-holding device has been improved to allow for the attachment of a removably mounted chemical light stick. In an aspect of the invention, this improvement is accomplished by having a grasping means attached to the hair-holding device to grasp a chemical light stick.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/361,963, filed Mar. 5, 2002.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present invention is in the field of hair accessories. More specifically this invention relates to functional yet decorative devices for holding ones hair, particularly where the decorative portion comprises a chemical light stick.

[0003] There are many devices for holding hair, such as hair clips, hair combs, headbands, and hair bands. These devices range from the purely functional to the very decorative.

[0004] The chemical light stick has seen increased popularity in recent years. This has led to luminescent bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings and various other ways to decorate ones body. Notably lacking however is a way to decorate ones hair with these popular light sticks.

[0005] A device is desired which would fulfill both the functional need of holding ones hair in a desired way, and the desire to decorate ones hair with chemical light sticks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A hair-holding device has been improved to allow for the attachment of a removably mounted chemical light stick. In an aspect of the invention, this improvement is accomplished by having a grasping means attached to the hair-holding device to grasp a chemical light stick.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a hair comb hair-holding device according to an aspect of the invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a hair comb hair-holding device according to an aspect of the invention.

[0009]FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of a hair comb hair-holding device according to an aspect of the invention.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a side view of a U-clip according to an aspect of the invention.

[0011]FIG. 5 is a side view of a headband hair-holding device according to a further aspect of the invention.

[0012]FIG. 6 is a side view of a headband hair-holding device according to a further aspect of the invention.

[0013]FIG. 7 is a side view of a butterfly clip hair-holding device according to a further aspect of the invention.

[0014]FIG. 8 is an end view of a butterfly clip hair-holding device according to a further aspect of the invention.

[0015]FIG. 9 is a side view of a butterfly clip hair-holding device according to a further aspect of the invention.

[0016]FIG. 10 is an end view of a butterfly clip hair-holding device according to a further aspect of the invention.

[0017]FIG. 11 is a top view of a butterfly clip hair-holding device according to a further aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Various aspects of the invention are presented in FIGS. 1-9 which are not drawn to scale and in which like components are numbered alike. Referring now to FIG. 1, according to an aspect of the invention, a hair-holding device 10 is shown which has been improved, and the improvement comprises a removably mounted chemical light stick 20. In this, and further descriptions, a chemical light “stick” is referred to, however this is for discussion purposes only. The chemical light may be formed into a specific shape, or it may be flexible, in fact for most of the present invention, a flexible chemical light would be preferred.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the hair-holding device 10 is a hair comb 11. According to an aspect of the invention, the hair comb 11 comprises tines 12 and a spine 14. According to a further aspect of the invention the hair-holding device 10 has been adapted to allow for the attachment of a removably mounted chemical light stick 20 by a grasping means 30 attached to the hair-holding device 10. FIG. 1 shows a grasping means 30 which is molded into the hair holding device, and which relies on friction to grasp a chemical light stick 20. According to a further embodiment, FIGS. 24 show a chemical light stick 20 is modified such that the grasping means 30 is able to grasp the chemical light stick 20 and the chemical light stick 20 is removably mounted therewith. In the case of the hair comb 11 shown in FIG. 1, the grasping means 30 is molded into the spine 14, however any suitable attachment means is within the purview of the invention. In the case of the hair comb 11 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the grasping means 30 is attached to the spine 14.

[0020] In a further aspect of the invention, the grasping means 30 comprise U-clips, wherein the U-clips have a bottom 34 (which is the natural bottom of the U) and wherein the bottoms 34 of the U-clips are attached to the hair-holding device 10. The chemical light stick 20 is modified with groves 22 to fit into the U-clips. The U-clips used should have a sufficient strength and stiffness to hold the chemical light stick 20 in place, yet be flexible enough to allow fairly easy installation of the chemical light stick 20. Although U-clips are particularly pointed out, this is in no way limits the invention to the use of U-clips as the grasping means 30. A spring loaded clamping means, a clasp, or any other suitable grasping means falls within the purview of the invention. Depending upon the grasping means chosen, the chemical light stick may not need to be modified at all. For example, the friction grasping means 30 shown in FIG. 1, or a spring loaded clamp would be able to grasp onto a chemical light stick unmodified. Even the U-clips shown, if sized properly could be used on unmodified chemical light sticks.

[0021] FIGS. 5 shows a headband 15 as the hair-holding device 10 according to an aspect of the invention. According to this aspect of the invention, either a flexible chemical light stick 20 or a formed chemical light stick 20 could be used to span the entire headband; or as shown in FIG. 6, one or more shorter standard chemical light sticks 20 may be used.

[0022] According to a further aspect of the invention, FIGS. 7 and 8 show a butterfly clip as the hair-holding device 10. These figures show a grasping means 30 attached to the outside of the butterfly clip. Once again, U-clips are shown, but this does not in any way limit the invention to the use of U-clips. The grasping means 30 could be molded as an integral part of the butterfly clip, as FIG. 1 shows with the hair comb. Also, any other suitable grasping means is within the purview of this invention.

[0023] Referring now to FIGS. 9, 10, and 11, according to another aspect of the invention, a butterfly clip is the hair-holding device 10. The butterfly clip 40 has two concavely curved hair comb pieces 42 each having tines 41 and a spine 43 and a concave face 44 and having a mutual pivotal connection 45. The curved hair comb pieces 42 concavely face each other such that the tines 41 of the hair comb pieces 42 mutually engage each other forming a tube shaped void 46. The butterfly clip 40 further comprises a spring means 48 which urges the concavely curved hair comb pieces 42 into mutual engagement. According to an aspect of the invention, the grasping means 30 is attached to the butterfly clip, such that the grasping means 30 can grasp a chemical light stick. This can be accomplished by having the grasping means 30 located within one of the concave faces 44 of the hair comb pieces 42 such that when at rest the grasping means 30 is located within the tube-shaped void 46. In a further embodiment, a chemical light stick 20 may be modified such that the grasping means 30 is able to more easily grasp the chemical light stick 20. 

What is claimed is:
 1. In a hair-holding device, the improvement comprising; a removably mounted chemical light stick.
 2. The hair-holding device of claim 1 wherein said hair-holding device is a headband.
 3. The hair-holding device of claim 1 wherein said hair-holding device is a butterfly clip.
 4. The hair-holding device of claim 1 wherein said hair-holding device is a hair comb.
 5. The hair-holding device of claim 1 further comprising: a grasping means for removably mounting said removably mounted chemical light stick.
 6. The hair-holding device of claim 1 further comprising: a grasping means attached to said hair-holding device; and, wherein said chemical light stick is modified such that said grasping means is able to grasp said chemical light stick and said chemical light stick is removably mounted therewith.
 7. The hair-holding device of claim 5 wherein said grasping means comprises clips, wherein said clips are U-shaped, having a base and two ends, wherein said clips are attached to said hair-holding device at said base, and wherein said two ends bend in slightly.
 8. The hair-holding device of claim 6 wherein said grasping means comprises clips, wherein said clips are U-shaped, having a base and two ends, wherein said clips are attached to said hair-holding device at said base, and wherein said two ends bend in slightly, and wherein said chemical light stick is modified with groves to fit into said clips.
 9. The hair-holding device of claim 5 wherein said grasping means is molded into said hair holding device.
 10. The hair-holding device of claim 9 wherein said device is a hair comb comprising tines and a spine, and wherein said grasping means is molded into said spine.
 11. The hair-holding device of claim 5 wherein said device is a hair comb comprising tines and a spine, and wherein said grasping means is attached to said spine.
 12. The hair-holding device of claim 5 wherein said device is a butterfly clip.
 13. In a hair-holding device, the improvement comprising; an adaptation to allow for the attachment of a removably mounted chemical light stick. 